What's With All The Sambas

Created in 1949 as a football (soccer) shoe, the Adidas Samba had one “job” for decades: aid footballers (soccer players) in their indoor football (soccer) training and game play. Yet, the rise of the Samba as a popular every-day style has seen the shoe transform from a sports essential to a closet staple.

So what’s with this transition? How did these shoes appear everywhere seemingly overnight? More importantly, what’s with all the Sambas? 

I'm the furthest thing from a sneakerhead–I proudly wear my socks and sandals day-in-day out. That’s not to say I don't appreciate a good pair of sneakers, they’re just not my forté. But, I do love my Sambas. For nearly two years I’ve had a pair practically glued to my feet. 

My introduction to the shoe came with my awareness of “bloke-core.” The style, frequently referenced in online spaces (including TikTok and Instagram) rose to popularity in mid-to-late 2022 and features relaxed silhouettes emulating aspects of 90s British football (soccer) culture. Aspects of “blokecore” include various sports jerseys, loose-fitting jeans, trackpants, and of course the notorious Adidas Samba.

The lifecycle of an internet-originated fashion trend is the same; it begins within a niche group of individuals before spreading across the internet and into the closets of fashion-oriented individuals. I doubt that every individual wearing Sambas in 2024 is attempting to emulate “bloke-core” or the closely related “bloquette” (a combination of blokecore and coquette styles) aesthetics. 

But, Sambas are everywhere–that’s undeniable. 

In my very official reporting (standing in the doorway of the Marist College’s fashion building, the Steel Plant, after classes got out I counted roughly 15 pairs of sambas. Say there were 32 people who walked by me, 42% of them were wearing the shoe. 

I spoke with Marist fashion students about the shoe. In conversation, these students overwhelmingly choose the shoe due to three factors: popularity, price, and versatility. One student said, “they're simple, which I appreciate when I'm trying to look nice but still be comfy.” She continued “I like all the new colorways and patterns Adidas has been releasing, the leopard print ones are so cute.” 

It seems as if Sambas aren’t going anywhere. With new colorways and patterns, students flock to the shoe as a classic of their wardrobe.